LAS VEGAS – Time will tell if Tito Ortiz’s 15-year career is the norm or an anomaly.

No sport is arguably more grueling both mentally and physically than MMA, and Ortiz’s long run has experienced it all. So as he prepares for his final UFC and MMA appearance, he knows it’s time to call it quits.

“I’m sick of getting surgeries, and I’m stick of being injured,” he said on Thursday.

On Saturday, the same day he’s inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, Ortiz (16-10-1 MMA, 15-10-1 UFC) meets fellow ex-light-heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin (18-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in the co-headliner of UFC 148. Their rubber match, which follows a split-decision win for each fighter in their previous two meetings, bolsters a card headlined by UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen’s long-awaited rematch.

Over the years, the ever-popular Ortiz has dealt with back and neck injuries in addition to the normal wear and tear of a pro-fighting career.

“It’s challenging,” he said. “People don’t understand it until you train. It’s six days a week, six to seven hours a day, three to four months at a time, and maybe you take a month off after a fight but then get right back in the gym to train again.

“Mentally, it’s very, very challenging. It’s very demanding on my body and my mind and my relationship, my family. And I’ve done it for 15 years.”

Ortiz previously told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the UFC has no plans to use him after retirement, which admittedly is disappointing for the 37-year-old fighter. But he said he’s preparing for a Hollywood career, ESPN apparently offered him a commentating job, and he always has his management and merchandising businesses.

“Now, like I said, instead of my braun, I want to use my brains,” he said. “I think I have a little intelligence left, so I want to use it to its fullest for sure.”